Fence-post.



C. J. WESTPHALL & J. B. SKIFF.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED 0011220, 1911.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

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inah and State of Oregon and Josnrn'. B.

CHARLES JACOB WESTPHALI), 0F PORTLAN monsoon, Ann Josnrn: omnren, IUWA.

BOOClllI SKIEF, OF

FENCE-POST. l

. Specification of Letterslatent. Application filed October 20,

1911. Serial No. 655,707.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OriAnLns J. When rnALL, of Portland, in the countyoft lt [ultno- Elmer, of Clinton, in the county of Clinton and State oiIowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence-Posts, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to fence posts and more particularly toa metallic ience post the object of the invention being to provide anexceedingly cheap and simple post, the lower end of which shall be soshaped that the base oi. the post can be quickly and easily set in thepost hole and then spread or expanded so as to force the base of thepost into solid earth, thereby more securely anchoring the post in theearth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a post and base of suchconstruction that said base can be inserted in the hole in contractedterm and then spread late ally for the purpose of securely anchoring thebase within the earth.

The invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafterfully described. and pointed out inthe claim.

Figure l is a detail perspective view showingthe position of the variousparts when the post and base are first inserted in the post hole. Fig. 2is a similar view showing the positions the parts assume when the postis arranged ready for use. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. elis a similar section on the line sirl of Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the combined post and baseis formed.

In carrying out our invention we employ a sheet metal blank A, which asshown tapers slightly toward the upper end. At the lower end this blankis bifurcated or cut away upon an angle as shown at B. y

C indicates avertical longitudinal center on the blank along which theblank is bent, and 1) indicates the line of juncture between the postproper and the base, the bifurcated end of the blank being bent upwardlyalong this line as more fully explained hereinafter. Th0 side edges oilthe blank may be constructed in any suitable manner for the purpose ofreceiving and fastening; the wire strands which will constitute aportion oi the fence. In shaping the fence furcated base is bentupwardly at each side providing laterally shaped base portions E, saidbase portions resting in a horizontal plane asmost clearly shown. Thepost is bent along the central line C, and when the post is to beinserted in the ground, the lower end much. possible in order to provideas small a base as possible. Any suitable tool may be employed forcontracting the post as Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

post the biis contracted projecting triangular i shown, and when socontracted it is set into the post hole which may be triangular asshown. XV hen the post is set so that it rests firmly upon the bottom ofthe post hole, the lower end thereof is released and the inherentelasticity of the metal blank will tend to spread the post to its normalposition shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and in so doingthe pointed ends of thebase portions will. be forced into solid earth thereby providing asecure anchorage, but in. C-t se the expansion of the blank is notsuliicient for this purpose any suitable spreading ployed and thisspreading operation is con tinned until the post has been spread to theposition shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and it will be noted that the laterallyprojecting wings earth a distance equal to the height of the triangle oisaid base portions. The post hole then filled with earth and the sheetmetal post will be maintained in a thoroughly upright position and alldanger of working loose is avoided inasmuch as the laterally projectingbase wings are firmly seated or means may be em or base portions will beforced into the solid spring into open position and force saidextensions horizontally into the earth.

CHARLES JACOB WVESTPHALL. JOSEPH BOOTH SKIFF. Witnesses as to thesignature of Charles J. Vestphall:

CARL B. MILLER, FRANK A. Fox. it-messes as to the signature of Joseph B.Skiff:

JOHN G. MGGRATH, NATHANIEL J. WALTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

